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Ellen Arnold Aspinall Lloyd, 94, died on January 26, 2025 following a brief illness. She was born on June 26, 1930 in Lancaster, PA. Her parents were Harris C. Arnold and Helen Trescher Arnold. She grew up on a small, so-called gentleman’s farm on the banks of Conestoga Creek with three little brothers, dogs, a goat, beloved chickens and a difficult rooster. She attended Lancaster Country Day School and then Brown University in Providence, RI. After graduation from college, she worked in New York City as copy editor at Bonwit Teller. She was introduced to Donald Aspinall then of Narberth, PA and was married to him not long after. They raised their four children in Gladwyne and then later in Villanova. During this time she worked as a children’s librarian and later as a grant writer and administrator for several Philadelphia based non-profit organizations including Seaman’s Church Institute. Mr. Aspinall passed away in 1995. In 1999 H. Gates Lloyd and Ellen were married. They enjoyed much travel together and peaceful summers on Cape Cod. Ellen loved listening to classical music and was a devoted follower of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Later in her life, she found a way to actively participate in her love for choral music and joined the Singing for Life Choir at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. She knew she had little talent for singing, but nevertheless, with great enthusiasm, she sang. She was a long time member of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and participated in the tutoring program there for many years. She was also a member of The Cosmopolitan Club, The Merion Cricket Club, and Philadelphia Skating Club & Humane Society. Both a scrappy tennis player with a scary serve and passionate ice skater, she served as President at the Skating Club with celebrated reliability. Unfazed, she saw her book club through pandemic times with her technical know how. Ellen’s creative side centered around the garden and her eye for flower arranging and the effort was rewarded with Garden Club prize winning arrangements. The quirkier creative bit surfaced when she was around animals. She was very fond of animals of all kinds and invented elaborate sidesplittingly humorous backstories for them, mostly for the family pets and other neighborhood dogs. She did the voice overs too. It was a true talent. A few years following Mr. Lloyd’s death in 2019, she moved from Quadrangle in Haverford to Waverly Heights to join some of her old Gladwyne friends. She is survived by her brother R. William Arnold (Margaret), sister-in-law Julia Arnold, her four children Barbara Aspinall (Douglas Smith), Ellie Aspinall (Tom Lauersen), Jane Aspinall (Jonathan Burgess), and Donald B. Aspinall Jr (Carolyn), 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, her stepchildren Lisa Hobson (Bill), Lallie Lloyd (David Miller), Alice Lloyd, Gates Lloyd (Kelly), William Lloyd (Meg), 13 step grandchildren, and 13 step great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband of 39 years, Donald B. Aspinall; her granddaughter, Ann L. Aspinall; her brother, Harris C. Arnold Jr; her husband of 20 years, H. Gates Lloyd; her brother, John T. Arnold; and her sister-in-law, Mary M. Arnold. We were very fortunate to have her in our lives for so long. Funny and strong-willed, sentimental and brave, we will miss her dearly. Following a private Interment, her Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 22 at 12:00 P.M. in the chapel at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Orchestra, or a charity of the donor’s choosing.

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Ellen Arnold Aspinall Lloyd

June 26, 1930 - January 26, 2025